Part 2 — Sign Regulations

• (a) Approval Required. No sign shall be constructed, maintained, displayed, or altered within the City except pursuant to a sign review permit obtained as provided in this article, unless the sign is specifically exempted from permit requirements. Signs may be erected and maintained in the districts where such structures are permitted after having secured approval of the location, size, and design of such structure, subject to the regulations set forth in this article.

• (b) Design, Construction and Maintenance. All signs shall be designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the following standards:

  • (1) All signs shall comply with the requirements of the Public Utilities Commission of the State, the Uniform Sign Code as adopted by the City, the regulations of the Building Department of the City and all other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.

  • (2) Except for banners, flags, temporary signs, and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this article, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame, or structure.

  • (3) All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition in compliance with all building and electrical codes, and in conformance with this Code, at all times.

  • (4) All signs shall be designed in a neat and orderly manner, and all signs, including supporting structures, shall be kept in a presentable condition at all times. All painted signs and all supporting structures of signs shall be repaired to keep them in good condition whenever such action is requested in writing by the Building Official or Planning Director.

• (c) Lighting. Lighting for illuminated signs shall be so arranged that it does not create a hazardous glare for pedestrians or vehicles either in a public street or on any private premises. No artificial light of whatever type or nature used in conjunction with, or for the purpose of lighting, any sign shall be so located or constructed, nor any substance or material capable of reflecting light on or into any adjoining or nearby lot, structure, or public right-of-way. Where spotlights or floodlights are used to illuminate a sign, the reflector shall be provided with proper shields or glass lenses concentrating the illumination upon the area of the sign so as to prevent glare upon the street or adjacent property.

• (d) Measurement of Sign Areas. The measurement of sign display areas shall be as follows:

  • (1) Freestanding, ground-mounted, and monument signs shall be measured by taking the entire framed area and background, including the framing surface.

• (2) Wall-mounted, roof-mounted, marquee, canopy, and under-canopy signs, if framed either with material or paint outlining the sign, shall be measured by taking the entire framed or outlined area; if consisting of individual letters or symbols, shall be measured by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any

material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed.

• (3) The area of all faces of multiple face signs shall be added together to determine the total sign area. However, double-faced signs may be erected having the allowed sign area on each side of the sign, provided the maximum dimension between the two faces shall not exceed twenty-four (24″) inches in width, shall be counted together to determine the total sign area.

• (e) Location.

  • (1) Freestanding, Ground-Mounted, and Monument Signs—Permanent Signage. Freestanding, ground-mounted, and monument signs shall not be less than one foot behind a property line or designated right-of-way for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, but in no case shall such signs be located closer than five (5′) feet behind a sidewalk location and five (5′) feet from any vehicular entrance or driveway, and such signs shall not interfere with the safety of vehicular traffic entering or exiting the premises or with vehicular street traffic or pedestrians.

  • (2) Wall-Mounted, Canopy, Under-Canopy, Projecting, and Marquee Signs. Wall-mounted, canopy, under-canopy, projecting, and marquee signs shall be located on or over private property, except in those districts where certain signs are allowed over public sidewalks. A minimum of eight (8′) feet clearance shall be maintained.

  • (3) All Signs. Signs shall be located so as not to interfere with the safety or movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

• (f) Master Signage Plan. Required for property that has more than one tenant. No permit shall be issued for an individual sign requiring a permit unless and until a master signage plan for the zone lot on which the sign will be erected has been submitted to the Planning Director and approved by the Planning Director as conforming with this section.

  • (1) Master Signage Plan. For any zone lot on which the owner proposes to erect one or more signs requiring a permit, the owner shall submit to the Director a master signage plan containing the following:

    • (A) An accurate site plan of the zone lot, at such scale as the Director may reasonably require;

    • (B) Location of building, parking lots, driveways, and landscaped areas on such zone lots;

    • (C) Computation of the maximum total sign area, the maximum area for individual signs, the height of signs, and the number of freestanding signs allowed on the zone lot(s) included in the plan under this article; and

• (D) An accurate indication on the site plan of the proposed location of each present and future sign of any type, whether requiring a permit or not, except that incidental signs need not be shown.

  • (2) Consent. The master signage plan shall be signed by all owners or their authorized agents in such form as the Director shall require.

  • (3) Procedures. A master signage plan shall be included in any development plan, site plan, planned unit development plan, or other official plan required by the City for the proposed development shall be processed simultaneously with such other plan.

  • (4) Amendment. A master signage plan may be as amended by filing a new master signage plan that conforms with all requirements of the ordinance then in effect.

  • (5) Binding Effect. After approval of a master signage plan, no sign shall be erected, placed, painted, or maintained, except in conformance with such plan and such plan may be enforced in the same way as any provision of this article. In case of any conflict between the provisions of such a plan and other provision of this article, the article shall control.

• (§ II, Ord. 771, eff. December 4, 1987, as amended by §§ 2, 3, 4, Ord. 937, eff. February 6, 1998, and § 222, Ord. 1095, eff. November 20, 2010)

The following signs shall be exempt from the sign review permit requirements of this article but shall be limited by Section 9-3.2806 and other requirements of this article:

• (a) Addresses. Street numbers and/or names not exceeding two square feet per sign for singlefamily or duplex structures and four square feet per sign for all other uses. One sign per street frontage shall be allowed. The provisions of this subsection shall include signs which identify the location of the office of the manager of property;

• (b) Bulletin Boards. Bulletin boards not over 24 square feet in area for public, charitable, or religious institutions where the bulletin boards are located on the premises of such institutions;

• (c) Commemorative Plaques. Memorial signs and tablets approved under site plan review. Building names and/or erection dates when cut into a permanent surface or constructed on noncombustible materials, or religious symbols and similar emblems when submitted with the design of the building and approved pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;

• (d) Community Activity Signs (Temporary). Signs associated with religious, charitable, cultural, civic, or educational organizations which signs do not exceed 32 square feet in size. Such signs shall be temporary and non-illuminated, and shall not create a site visibility hazard; if on public property, approval is required from the appropriate agency;

• (e) Construction Announcement Signs. Signs placed on real property on which construction is to take place which signs contain information regarding the individuals and firms directly connected with the construction project, including the name of the contractor, the subcontractors, the real estate licensee, and future tenants. Signs for sites less than two acres shall be limited to a maximum size of 32 square feet. Signs for sites of (2) acres or greater shall not exceed 96 square feet. Such signs shall not be displayed more than six months prior to the construction of the project. Time extensions may be granted by the Planning Director. Construction announcement signs shall be removed within 30 days after the issuance of the certificate of occupancy for a majority of the development;

• (f) Credit Cards Accepted: Trading Stamps Given: Association Membership. Signs displaying credit cards accepted, trading stamps given, or association membership when not exceeding one-half square foot per window sign and one and one-half square feet per hanging sign and a total of four in number;

• (g) Directional Signs. Signs bearing no advertising message and located on the site may be erected when necessary to facilitate circulation within the site and facilitate egress and ingress. Such signs shall not be counted against the site's allowed sign area. The size, number, and placement of informational signs may be limited by the Planning Director;

• (h) Informational Signs for the Safety and Convenience of the Public. Signs such as "rest rooms," "telephone," "danger," "impaired clearance," "no smoking," and other signs of a similar nature ("parking in rear," "drive-in window," parking, and facility signs) may be allowed up to five square feet in area pursuant to this subsection;

• (i) Interior Signs. Signs located in the interior of any building or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building or group of buildings, and which are not visible from any public right-of-way, shall

not be subject to the size and location criteria of this article. However, permits shall be required for signs which require electrical connections or engineered supports;

• (j) Nonprofit, Cultural, and Promotion Posters. Temporary display posters in connection with nonprofit civic and cultural events and with noncommercial health, welfare, and safety campaigns (such as Red Cross, United Crusade, TB Seals, Heart Fund, performing arts, and the like). Such posters shall be removed within 14 days after the termination of the event;

• (k) Official Signs. Official signs posted pursuant to and in the discharge of any governmental function by public officials in the performance of their duties (including traffic and street name signs, as well as notices, emblems, or other forms of identification and signs required by law);

• (l) Political Signs. Signs associated with a candidate for elected office, political party, ballot measure, or which make a political statement, not exceeding 32 square feet in area per candidate or issue per site, subject to the following:

  • (1) Any such sign shall be erected not earlier than the closing date of the filing candidacy and shall be removed within 14 days after such election. However, those candidates who continue as such after the primary election may continue to display their signs until 14 days after the next general election,

  • (2) No political or campaign sign shall be attached to trees, fence posts, or utility poles, except on private property where signs may be attached to trees and fence posts with the permission of the property owner,

  • (3) No political or campaign sign shall be attached and erected on public property or within the public right-of-way,

  • (4) Political or campaign signs placed upon private property shall not be erected in a manner which, in whole or in part, would create a hazardous condition to pedestrian or traffic alike, either by obstructing the free use of exits, buildings, or sites, or by creating visual distractions, whether by color, glare, or representing a traffic control device,

  • (5) In cases where political or campaign signs are not removed within the specific time period, the City shall cause to be removed those signs which remain, and the cost and expense of such activity shall be paid by the candidate;

• (m) Public Signs. Traffic and other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, public utility signs, and civic, community, or non-advertising signs as may be approved by the Council;

• (n) Real Estate Signs. Real estate signs, subject to the following:

• (1) For sale or lease on-site or structure signs not exceeding six square feet for single-family or duplex, 16 square feet for multiple-family, business, and industrial sites of two acres or less in area, 32 square feet for multiple-family, business, and industrial sites of two acres or larger, and one in number per street frontage. Real estate signs shall be limited to a continuous display of one year,

  • (2) Open house, on-site or structure signs not exceeding six square feet in area per sign and one in number per site or structure during the time of an open house, and

  • (3) Open house, off-site ground-mounted signs not exceeding six square feet per sign and one in number in the neighborhood of sales during the time of an open house; not to be located in any center median of a public road or in a sidewalk right-of-way; and directional arrows with addresses, not exceeding two in number in the neighborhood of sales;

• (o) Replacing Sign Copy. The removing and replacing of only sign copy without increasing or decreasing the area in conforming signs. The sign container, including the structural and electrical connections, shall remain unchanged. Any change to the sign container shall be reviewed and approved;

• (p) Residential Nameplates. Residential nameplates not exceeding two square feet in area and one in number and displaying only the name of the premises upon which it is displayed; the name of the owner or lessee of such premises; and the address of such premises;

• (q) Seasonal Decorations. Holiday greetings, decorations, and displays, such as those which relate to Christmas, Thanksgiving, the Fourth the July, and the like, excluding advertising signs disguised as seasonal decorations;

• (r) Seasonal garden flags, no larger than six square feet and no more than three (3′) feet in height (from original ground elevation to top of framing) may be placed within the planter areas in the central downtown;

• (s) Signs Required by Law. Signs displayed by private individuals when required by law or the regulations of any governmental agency or law;

• (t) Window Signs. Temporary window signs (non-internally illuminated) announcing special sales, a change in management, individual product and/or price signs, or similar information and designed to be viewed from adjacent streets, sidewalks, public rights-of-way, or parking lots within a business center. However, no more than two-thirds of the window space is to be covered with window signs. This subsection is not intended to allow additional permanent signs;

• (u) Neon window or wall sign for the purpose of letting customers know a business is open, an ATM is available or to provide any other service;

• (v) Signs which are Portable, "A" Frame and "I" Frame Signs and Reader Board Signs. These signs may be located within the public right-of-way (sidewalk) if placed directly in front of the business displaying the sign and there is a minimum of four (4′) feet of clearance on the sidewalk and no blockage of doorways or fire escape exits. In no case may the sign be displayed when a business is closed. "A" frame and "I" frame signs are not to exceed thirty-six (36″) inches by twenty-four (24″) inches in all Zoning Districts and are required to be professionally designed and constructed of durable materials.

(§ II, Ord. 771, eff. December 4, 1987, as amended by § 223, Ord. 1095, eff. November 20, 2010, and § 1, Ord. 1158, eff. December 1, 2017)

In addition to any sign not specifically in accordance with this article, the following signs shall be prohibited:

• (a) Signs having one or a combination of the following characteristics:

  • (1) Obscene or Offensive to Morals. Containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character which, taken as a whole, appeal to the prurient interest in sex, and which signs are patently offensive and, when taken as a whole, do not have serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value,

  • (2) Imitative of Official Signs. Signs (other than when used for traffic direction) which contain or are an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal, or contain the words stop, go, slow, caution, danger, warning, or similar words, or signs which imitate or may be construed as other public notices, such as zoning violations, building permits, business licenses, and the like,

  • (3) Fluorescent Colors. Permanent signs containing fluorescent colors as all or part of their copy,

  • (4) Privilege Signs. Signs containing the manufacturer's name and/or emblem which exceeds one-fourth of the face of the sign,

  • (5) Natural Despoliation. Signs which are cut, burnt, limed, painted, or otherwise marked on a field, tree, rock, or other natural item, and

  • (6) Portable Changeable Copy Signs. Signs designed to have changeable copy as a part or all of their copy and which are portable and not an integral part of a permanent sign;

• (b) Signs where there is any production of smoke, sound, or other substances;

• (c) Obstructive to Use or Visibility or in Hazardous Locations. No sign shall be erected in any manner which sign, in whole or in part, would create a hazardous condition to pedestrian or traffic alike, either by obstructing the free use of exits, buildings, or sites, or by creating visual distractions, whether by color, sound, glare, or representing a traffic control device. This is in addition to other provisions of this Code;

• (d) Signs in one or more of the following locations:

  • (1) Roof Signs. Roof signs located above the roof ridge line,

  • (2) Signs on vehicles:

    • (A) No vehicle may be used as a platform or substitute for a billboard, freestanding sign, or movable sign, whether parked on private property or the public right-of-way. This subsection is specifically intended to include the use of vehicles as freestanding or offpremises signs,

• (B) No vehicle, trailer, camper, boat, or other mobile equipment displaying any sign, advertisement or device for the purpose of advertising that said vehicle, trailer, camper, boat, or other mobile equipment is for sale shall be parked on any private property, except duly licensed sales lots. Exception: the display of one vehicle, trailer, camper, boat, or other mobile equipment for sale on private property of the owner of such vehicle, trailer, camper, boat, or other mobile equipment which property is residentiallyzoned and improved with a dwelling, shall be permitted provided any advertising sign is not more than ten (10″) inches by twelve (12″) inches in size, is placed on or within such vehicle, trailer, camper, boat, or other mobile equipment and such display complies with all other sections of this Code,

  • (3) Bus Bench Signs. Signs located on benches or on other similar structures provided for the use of passengers along the route of a bus shall be prohibited,

  • (4) In Storage. Signs may not be located on premises so as to be visible from beyond the property line after removal, prior to erection, or while in storage, and

  • (5) Miscellaneous Temporary Signs and Posters. The tacking, posting, or otherwise affixing of signs of a miscellaneous character, visible from a public way, located on the walls of buildings, barns, and sheds, or on trees, poles, posts, fences, or other structures shall be prohibited, unless specifically permitted by this article;

• (e) Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background except those exempt by Section 9-3.2805(q) ; and

(f) Banana flags/banners, feather flags/banners, teardrop flags/banners are prohibited. (§ II, Ord. 771, eff. December 4, 1987, as amended by § 2, Ord. 934, eff. October 17, 1997, § 5, Ord. 937, eff. February 6, 1998, § 1, Ord. 1089, eff. February 20, 2010, § 224, Ord. 1095, eff. November 20, 2010, and § 2, Ord. 1158, eff. December 1, 2017)

Signs advertising an activity, business, product, or service no longer conducted on the premises on which the sign is located, or sign frames, structural members, or supporting poles remaining unused for six months or longer, shall be removed from the site. Signs will be considered abandoned or dilapidated where the sign or element of the sign is excessively weathered or structurally unsound, or where the copy can no longer be seen or understood by a person with normal eyesight under normal viewing conditions.

The owner of a sign, the purpose of which has been abandoned, who desires to make subsequent use of the structural portions of such sign in its present location, may, within six months after the abandonment, make an application to the Planning Director for an extension of time. Where the sign conforms with all other requirements of the law, and where the owner submits reasonable evidence that he or she is endeavoring to secure a use for the sign (a new tenant for the structure or the arrival of a new product line for the existing tenant), the Planning Director may grant extensions of time. The Planning Director may require the owner, as a condition of the granting of such extension, to paint out, obscure, or remove some or all elements of the message or face portion of the sign in such a manner as to leave the remaining structure neat and unobtrusive in appearance and in harmony with the structure to which it is attached, and shall require that such work be done within 30 days after the granting of such extension, or the extension shall be invalidated by such failure. Signs which are determined by the City to be structurally unsound and dangerous or hazardous to the public safety or welfare shall be removed immediately upon notification by the City. (§ II, Ord. 771, eff. December 4, 1987, as amended by § 225, Ord. 1095, eff. November 20, 2010)